Butchers are being urged to get ready for next year's National Butchers' Week, with MTJ again gearing up to put the trade firmly in the spotlight.

With times tough on the high street, the week will focus on throwing a spotlight on the independent butcher and highlighting the skills and expertise available to consumers on their doorsteps.

As well as pointing to the excellence of the trade, the week, which is organised by Meat Trades Journal and runs from 4-10 of March, will also seek to focus on the women coming into the industry, with an emphasis on the growing number of female butchers throughout the UK.

Ed Bedington, editor of MTJ, said: "We've been running National Butchers' Week for six years now and each year continues to build on the successes of the past. We hope to continue that trend and I would urge all of you to start thinking of ideas to make the most of a great opportunity to promote your business.

"We shall do our best to ensure the national media spotlight is firmly on the trade, and we'll be looking at the increasing numbers of women seeking a career in butchery to capture that attention."

The week is sponsored by Eblex, Bpex, Lucas Ingredients and Gordon Rhodes and MTJ is also working with key industry groups, including the National Federation of Meat & Food Traders, the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association and the Q Guild, all of which will be backing the week.

MTJ will also provide advice and information in the run-up to the week, giving butchers the tools they need to make the most of it, and wants to hear from female butchers throughout the trade to build up the media campaign.